The Wayro route from Ciudad Valles to Coatepec is 321 miles (516 km), about 7 h 22 min of driving without stops.
| Distance by road | 321 mi (516 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 7 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-70D → SLP 14 → MEX-127 → MEX-180 → MEX-180D → MEX-130D → MEX-129 → MEX-131 → MEX-140D → VER 7 |
| Mexican states on the route | San Luis Potosí, Veracruz |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-70D, MEX-180D, MEX-130D, MEX-140D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Driving this route in a car with U.S. plates
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Required: this route is outside the zones where U.S.-registered cars can skip the temporary import permit (Baja California, Baja California Sur and part of Sonora) |
|---|---|
| Mexican auto insurance | Required for all vehicles: buy a Mexican policy before you drive |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Mexico travel information (updated August 11, 2026); permits are issued by Banjercito.
What the drive from Ciudad Valles to Coatepec is like
MEX-127 (73 mi) and MEX-180D (60 mi) carry about 41% of the 321 miles. It runs through 2 states: San Luis Potosí, Veracruz. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-70D, MEX-180D and MEX-130D. Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Ciudad Valles to Coatepec, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-85 | 2–9 | 7 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70D | 9–24 | 15 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 14 | 24–45 | 21 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 45–63 | 18 | San Luis Potosí, Veracruz |
| MEX-127 | 63–136 | 73 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180 | 136–158 | 22 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 158–165 | 7 | Veracruz |
| MEX-130D | 165–178 | 13 | Veracruz |
| MEX-180D | 178–231 | 53 | Veracruz |
| MEX-129 | 231–255 | 24 | Veracruz |
| MEX-131 | 255–284 | 29 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 284–289 | 5 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 289–290 | 1 | Veracruz |
| MEX-140D | 290–308 | 18 | Veracruz |
| connecting roads | 308–311 | 3 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 311–316 | 5 | Veracruz |
| VER 7 | 316–320 | 4 | Veracruz |
| local roads | 320–321 | 1 | Veracruz |
- Mile 55 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Veracruz (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Coatepec
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (mile 313), Pinacoteca Diego Rivera (mile 314)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote (mile 289)
- Museums and history: Tamtoc (mile 19), El Zapotal (mile 71), El Tajín (mile 196), Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (mile 313), Pinacoteca Diego Rivera (mile 314)
Tamtoc
Tamtoc, also called Tamohí, is an archaeological site of the Huastec culture in Tamuín, San Luis Potosí, studied and restored since 2000 by a team led by archaeologist Estela Martínez Mora.
El Zapotal
In the Ignacio de la Llave municipality of Veracruz, El Zapotal holds the ruins of a Totonac city that flourished from 600 to 900 CE.
El Tajín
Look for elaborately carved reliefs on columns and friezes at El Tajín, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Veracruz, along with the Pyramid of the Niches and some of the site's 17 ballcourts.
Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote
Cofre de Perote National Park protects the forested slopes of the mountain, and its role is practical as well as scenic: a little over 40 percent of the water used in Xalapa comes from here.
Xalapa Museum of Anthropology
Run by the Universidad Veracruzana in a building designed by Edward Durell Stone, the Xalapa Museum of Anthropology displays more than 1,500 pieces from Olmec, central Veracruz and Huastec cultures, including several Olmec colossal heads, amid subtropical gardens.
Pinacoteca Diego Rivera
In downtown Xalapa, the Pinacoteca Diego Rivera is an art museum with a large collection of works by the muralist Diego Rivera.
Once you reach Coatepec
Jardín Botánico Francisco J. Clavijero
Opened in 1977 by the Instituto de Ecología near Xalapa, this botanical garden sits in native cloud forest beside a 30-hectare forest sanctuary and keeps notable collections of Mexican cycads, bamboo and carnivorous butterworts.
Cascada de Texolo
Two waterfalls on the Matlacobatl River, Texolo with a 20-meter drop and La Monja with about 8 meters, sit roughly 3 kilometers from Xico amid cloud forest included in a Ramsar wetland site.
More drives to Coatepec
- Teziutlán to Coatepec
- Puebla to Coatepec
- Cholula to Coatepec
- Tulancingo to Coatepec
- Pachuca to Coatepec
- Mexico City to Coatepec
From Ciudad Valles to other places in Mexico
- Ciudad Valles to Tecolutla
- Ciudad Valles to Pedro Escobedo
- Ciudad Valles to Otumba
- Ciudad Valles to Cuetzalan
- Ciudad Valles to Tlaxcala
- Ciudad Valles to Chiautempan
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ciudad Valles to Coatepec?
About 7 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 321 miles.
How far is Coatepec from Ciudad Valles by car?
About 321 miles (516 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Do I need a permit to drive my U.S. car from Ciudad Valles to Coatepec?
Yes. A temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) is required for a U.S.-registered car on this route, which is outside the zones where it can be skipped. Mexican auto insurance is required for every vehicle.
Is it safe to drive from Ciudad Valles to Coatepec?
The U.S. State Department rates San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Ciudad Valles to Coatepec use?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-70D, SLP 14, MEX-127, MEX-180, MEX-180D, MEX-130D, MEX-129, MEX-131, MEX-140D and VER 7. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Ciudad Valles to Coatepec?
Closest to the road: El Zapotal (archaeological site, mile 71, 1 mi from the route); Xalapa Museum of Anthropology (archaeological museum, mile 313, 0.2 mi from the route); Pinacoteca Diego Rivera (art museum, mile 314, 0.6 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on September 29, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.